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In his letter, Geelani confessed he chose wrong path, Kashmir mission failed: J&K DGP

Syed Ali Shah Geelani (File Pic)

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): The letter sent by Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani to his constituents is a candid admission by the ailing leader that the path chosen by him was wrong and that Kashmir was used by some people for their personal gains, Director General of Police (J&K) Dilbagh Singh said today.

Speaking to the reporters after inaugurating a state-of-the-art women police station at Rajouri, Dilbagh Singh said that Geelani’s letter to his constituents is an eye-opener in which he is crying hoarse.

“He has admitted that they have miserably failed in their mission and Kashmir issue was used by many people for their personal gains. His path was wrong and they were propagating negative thinking,” DGP said.

The J&K police chief’s comments came a day after Geelani parted ways from the Hurriyat Conference citing the “prevailing situation” as the main reason.

Later, in a separate letter addressed to all the Hurriyat constituents, Geelani said he felt ashamed of leading a forum where people were luring Kashmiri youth into drug abuse and serving Pakistan’s interests. He had also stated that “Kashmir’s freedom struggle” was turned into a “narco trade” and Kashmir’s drugged youth had lost focus and senses.

About the ongoing anti-militancy operations in J&K, DGP Singh said that since Pakistan continues to push in militants, no time frame or deadline can be set for wiping out militancy. “Our efforts are to clean areas and then districts gradually from militancy. Yesterday, the last surviving terrorist from Doda district was killed in an encounter. As a result, Doda district is now militancy free,” he said.

The DGP said that given the inputs that Pakistan is trying to push in terrorists from traditional infiltration routes, security forces are going to further strengthen the counter infiltration grid on the LoC and the International Border in Jammu. “We are ready to face any challenge on LoC or the IB. All the bids would be foiled. If any terrorist manages to sneak in, he will be killed in the hinterland,” he said.

-CHK/ARK

Covid-19 cases in Nepal climb to 13,564; death toll at 29

New Delhi (NVI): With 316 new cases of the coronavirus infection confirmed today, Nepal’s COVID-19 tally has reached 13,564, according to local media reports.

The country’s Ministry of Health and Population said, 245 males and 71 females are among the newly infected people. In total, 11,907 males and 1,657 females have contracted the infection in Nepal.

In the past 24 hours, 60 people achieved recovery and were discharged form the hospitals, taking the tally of recovery cases to 3,194 including 2,917 males and 277 females.

As of today, coronavirus has spread to all 77 districts of Nepal, as per the reports.

Currently, 10,341 people are in isolation and 53,070 in quarantine centers across the country

Meanwhile, 29 people died from the pandemic in Nepal as no coronavirus related death was reported today in the country.

-RJV

Free ration scheme for poor extended till November end: PM

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced the extension of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana till the end of November that will help over 80 crore people to get free ration.

In his address to the nation on the last day of Unlock-1, the Prime Minister said the provision of food to those in need during lockdown has been the foremost priority of the country.

The PM Garib Kalyan Yojana was launched as soon as the lockdown was announced in March. Under the scheme, a package of Rs 1.75 lakh crore was announced for the poor.

He said the extension of the Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana will cost Rs 90,000 crore more. “If we add the last three months’ expenses in it, then it amounts to be around 1.5 lakh crore,” he added.

Under the flagship scheme launched amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the poor families can avail 5 kgs of rice or wheat per month. The PM today said that now such families can avail 1 kg pulses to also, in addition to 5 kgs grains. In his address, the PM said that the enormity of this welfare measure for poor people has made the entire world take notice.

He said that with the commencement of the rainy season, most of the work takes place in the agriculture sector. He said that keeping in mind that requirements as well as expenditure increase during the time of upcoming festivals, the government has decided to extend scheme till Deepawali and Chhath Puja.

Apart from that, the PM noted that in the last three months, Rs 31,000 crore has been transferred in the Jan Dhan accounts of almost 20 crore poor families. Besides, Rs 18,000 crore has been transferred to the bank accounts of more than 9 crore farmers. Rs 50,000 crore is being spent on PM Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan, which has been started to provide employment opportunities, he said.

The PM also underlined that the country is moving towards the institution of ‘one nation, one ration card’, which will be of immense benefit to the poor migrants who travel to other states in search of work.

He also urged the people to stay safe during Unlock 2 that will be in place from July 1 to 31. “Irresponsible and negligent behavior has been on the rise during Unlock 1,” he said, adding that earlier people were more careful about usage of mask, washing hands for more than 20 seconds several times during the day and maintaining ‘do gazdoori’.

The Prime Minister said that regulations need to be followed with the same seriousness as during Lockdown, especially in the Containment Zones.

However, the Prime Minister didn’t mention anything about the present India-China face-off over border row. The Corps Commanders of India and China are holding a meeting a Chushul today, as part of efforts to de-escalate the situation at the Line of Actual Control (LAC). This is the third meeting between the top military commanders from both sides, the earlier one being on June 6 and 22.

-ARK

Security of 2 Taj Hotels in Mumbai beefed up after threat calls from Pak

New Delhi (NVI): Two Taj hotels in south Mumbai — Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel at Colaba and Taj Lands End at Bandra (West) – received threat calls from Pakistan last night, with the caller threatening to carry out a terror attack similar to the 26/11 attacks. Security has been heightened at both the hotels following the calls.

While the two hotels have their security systems in place, the police said they are in the process of identifying the caller.

Adequate police deployment has been made in the area around the hotel and entry and exit restricted on the roads leading to the hotel, according to media reports.

Reportedly, both the hotels are shut because of the raging coronavirus disease outbreak but security has been beefed up to prevent any untoward incident.

The threat call was made at around 12.30am on Tuesday and was attended by hotel employees.

In addition to this, Mumbai Police has also intensified its patrolling across the city and also stepped up its vigil at all the vital installations following the calls.

-CHK

J&K records 4 Covid deaths in a single day, toll reaches 100

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir today witnessed four deaths due to the Covid-19, taking the total number of fatalities in the Union Territory to 100, health officials said.

They said that earlier in the day, two patients—one each from Srinagar and Shopian districts died at Chest Diseases hospital. The deceased included a 55-year-old woman from Bhagat area in Barazulla, Srinagar and a 23-year-old youth from Shopian.

The youth had met with an accident and was admitted to SHMS hospital where he was tested positive for virus during treatment. Dr Saleem Tak, Medical Superintendent CD hospital said that the youth was shifted from SMHS on 29th June after he was tested positive for COVID-19, and died at a hospital today. He said the patient was admitted with severe head injuries.

The second death is that of a woman from Barzulla area of Srinagar. “She was on a ventilator and had underlying medical conditions that include hypertension, and diabetes,” the doctor said, adding that the woman had tested positive for the virus a few days ago.

The third Covid death was reported in Basholi area of Kathua district in Jammu where an 85-year-old woman died in Government Medical College Hospital, Jammu. “She was suffering from chronic pulmonary disease and was on oxygen since past many days. She had already tested positive for the virus yesterday,” a doctor at GMC Jammu said.

The fourth death was reported from north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, when a 55-year-old businessman, who had tested positive at SKIMS Bemina, passed away. He was admitted at SKIMS a few days ago and this morning his condition worsened after which he died in the afternoon.

With the fresh four deaths, the number of people who died of Covid-19 in J&K has reached 100 of which 88 were recorded from Kashmir and 12 from the Jammu region.

-ARK

Amit Shah’s tweet on internet to be snapped in J&K and Ladakh is fake: MHA

New Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) today cleared the air over a tweet by Home Minister Amit Shah claiming that fixed line broadband and internet in J&K and Ladakh will be snapped, calling it fake.

The MHA statement came after a tweet was doing rounds on social media, claiming that the Home Minister has announced that the internet will be suspended in the two Union Territories.

MHA Spokesperson took to Twitter and wrote, “Claim : A tweet is circulating in the name of Union Home Minister mentioning fixed line broadband and internet in J&K and Ladakh to be snapped.

#FactCheck: This tweet is #fake. No such tweet has been done from Union Home Minister’s twitter handle.”

The screenshot of a tweet that was being circulated on social media reads – “Fixed-line broadband & mobile internet service to be snapped in the UT J&K and Ladakh from tonight”.

-RJV/ARK

How Vedanta is helping farmers post-lockdown in Odisha’s Jharsuguda

Representational image

Subrat Kumar Sarangi

Bhubaneswar (NVI): Farming communities across the country have suffered due to the nationwide lockdown following the Covid-19 outbreak. The livelihoods of farmers who were hoping to sell their winter harvest at good margins have been impacted due to lack of manpower to harvest produce, broken supply-chain limitations imposed to marketplaces and movement, etc.

Farmers in Jharsuguda in western Odisha also had a tough time due to the unprecedented situation. However, post-lockdown, as Jharsuguda’s farming community begins for the new cropping cycle, Vedanta has extended its support.

Vedanta is India’s largest producer of primary aluminium, operating a world-class aluminium smelter in Jharsuguda with an installed smelting capacity of 1.6 MTPA.

From distributing top-quality seeds to guiding farmers through the cultivation cycle, Vedanta is working with experts from the Department of Horticulture, Government of Odisha and agri-scientists from Krishi Vigyan Kendra to help them.

Recently, Vedanta distributed seeds of high-yielding indigenous ginger variety to hundreds of farmers associated with its farm-based livelihood project ‘Jeevika Samridhhi’ helping them kick-start the new cropping cycle.

Since its inception, the project has been working with farmers to promote adoption of high-yielding cash crops and advanced methods of commercial farming for generating greater revenue from farming activities.

Besides seeds, the farmers were given orientation on ginger farming and Package of Practices (PoP) on growing the crop like land preparation, seed treatment, planting method, manure anf fertilizer, natural pest management, duration of cultivation etc. by agricultural experts.

CN Singh, CEO Vedanta Ltd. Jharsuguda said, “We rolled out Jeevika Samridhhi with the aim to support and benefit farmers in our periphery through adoption of advanced agricultural methodology and land and water management. Encouraged by the success of the first phase of the project, we launched the second phase enveloping more farmers in the projects ambit,” he added.

He further said that, “To help us achieve superlative results on ground, we have also roped the expertise of KVK and Horticulture Dept, Govt. of Odisha, for advising and technically upskilling the farmers.”

Meanwhile, a sustainable livelihood project ‘Jeevika Samridhhi’ run by Vedantas, focuses on land and water management, run in partnership with SEWA, Kolabira. It aims to introduce small and marginal farmers in the company’s peripheral community to better, more efficient and sustainable methods of farming, there by increasing the quantum of produce and sustained return on investments.

The project’s relevance is based on the need to augment irrigation infrastructure, promote advanced agriculture, application of bio-fertiliser and pesticides, and make farming a remunerative profession.

In the first phase of project, more than a hundred farming households of Siriapali village were benefited through the project, with an increase in irrigation potential of the village by 21 per cent and household income of beneficiaries by 20-25 per cent in just one year. In its second phase, the project covers over 250 farming households across three villages for a duration of two years.

Vedanta’s smelter in Jharsuguda is the only Indian smelter in the global ‘1 Million Tonne Club’ primary aluminium producers and exporters.

Currently, the company produces more than a third of Indias primary aluminium backed by world class assets, new-age technology and innovative practices and a robust sustainable development framework. With a strong focus on safety, the company is committed to delivering sustainable and robust growth, which creates value for its shareholders and stakeholders.

-RJV/ARK

Mahanadi Coalfields CMD appeals to maintain normal mining operations

MCL CMD BN Shukla

Subrat Kumar Sarangi

Bhubaneswar (NVI): Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), an Odisha-based subsidiary of Coal India Limited, while seeking cooperation of employees, today appealed to the trade union leaders to re-consider the decision of resorting to strike.

The workers demands pertain to policy decisions beyond the purview of the company and reiterated that no coal block allotted to Mahanadi Coalfields is going to be auctioned.

“At present, MCL has 48 Coal Blocks having mineable resource of 29,100 MT, which can meet the requirement of thermal coal for another 100 years and another miscellaneous 22 projects are in pipeline, which includes washeries, coal gasification, solar power, CHP etc,” the CMD, B N Shukla said.

He also added in his appeal, that company aims at achieving coal production of 263 million tonne (MT) by 2023-24.

In the current financial year, MCL has been assigned with a target of 173 MTs of coal. However, “MCL, at present, is lagging behind in its production and overburden removal targets,” the CMD added, emphasising that any further stoppage of work will not be in the interest of company.

Even during the lockdown due to pandemic the production and dispatch continued at full pace. Shukla said, stoppage of work is never in our agenda and all our differences/ grievances are resolved in an atmosphere of mutual trust and co-operation.

He also appreciated the efforts of trade unions in motivating the employees to work for the nation during the lockdown.

Central trade unions/federations have served notices for resorting to a three-day-long-strike in Coal India and its subsidiaries from July 2, 2020, in support of their charter of demands.

However, this matter has been referred to Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner (C) of Bhubaneswar which has been seized under conciliation by Dy. CLC (C) Kolkata, Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India, as per the provisions of Industrial Disputes Act, 1947.

-CHK

Another infiltration bid foiled by Army along LoC in J&K’s Kupwara

July 18 Shopian encounter: Army completes summary of evidence
An encounter site in Kashmir (File Pic)

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Another infiltration bid was foiled at Parkian Gali sector in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on the intervening night of June 29 and June 30, the Army said today.

Defence Officials said that a group of at least six to eight infiltrators were challenged at Parkian Gali along LoC but they fled away taking advantage of darkness.

“On night of 29/30, suspicious movement of 6-8 persons was observed in two groups in Parkian Gali Sector, Kupwara (J&K) along the LoC. Own troops challenged the infiltrators with fire. Infiltrators ran away taking help of darkness. Details awaited,” the Indian Army’s Srinagar-based Chinar corps tweeted.

Apart from that, the Tanghdar and Nougam sectors in Kupwara district have witnessed unprovoked ceasefire violation since last night as Pakistan fired mortar shells and small arms. Top Police and Army officers have been maintaining that frequent ceasefire violations were aimed at pushing militants into this side of the LoC.

Earlier on June 1, a major infiltration bid was foiled by the Indian Army at the Line of Control (LoC) in Nowshehra sector of Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district, as three heavily armed terrorists were killed.

In early April this year, the Army foiled a major infiltration attempt at LoC in north Kashmir’s Keran sector, killing five terrorists while losing five of its soldiers from elite forces in an operation.

-ARK

COVID-19 pandemic is speeding up, far from over, warns WHO

COVAX
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

New Delhi (NVI): The coronavirus pandemic is not even close to being over and is in fact speeding up in some parts of the world, said World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus adding that about 1,80,000 people worldwide have tested positive in the last 24 hours.

Tedros noted that, six months after China first alerted the WHO to a novel respiratory infection, the grim milestones of 10 million confirmed infections and 500,000 deaths had been reached.

“We all want this to be over. We all want to get on with our lives. But the hard reality is that this is not even close to being over. Although many countries have made some progress globally, the pandemic is actually speeding up,” WHO chief said while addressing a virtual media briefing.

“Some countries have now experienced a resurgence of cases as they start to reopen their economies and societies,” Tedros said. “Most people remain susceptible. The virus still has a lot of room to move.”

He further added, “For many of our countries to really not hunt down this virus is our failure in contact tracing, because we have lame excuses, saying it’s too many and it’s too difficult to trace.”

Tedros also said that the WHO would be sending a team to Wuhan next week to investigate the potential animal source of the new coronavirus.

As per the latest data by Johns Hopkins University, a total of 10,199,798 coronavirus cases and 5,02,947 deaths have been reported so far around the globe.

-CHK

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